It’s a wolf! A wolf in sheep’s clothing! The wolf known as Stealth Authoritarianism has now evolved and is attempting to be the shepherd of sheep. Its ulterior motive is to become a shepherd and lead sheep into its own mouth. We, the sheep, must be aware of the wolves who seek to shake the rules and make the law operate at their feet. We think the period of autocracy is passing, the era of democrat is already here. It’s kind of true; this is because until 2010’s, the electoral democracy index is usually drawing upward trends. But after 2010’s, the situation becomes little different. Some of the countries’ democracy index become lower. It means something making less democracy exists. Then, what was recognized as enemy of democracy for current situation?
Currently, we hear voices predicting the collapse of democracy from some parts of society. They prefer to make doubt between humans for make ‘less’ democratic societies. They are called stealth authoritarians. According to Varol, they are explained as new types of authoritarians which learned to continue and remain their power forever through legal mechanisms in democratic regime. They use mechanisms for building ‘less’ democratic system than before, are very intelligent and planned. They use laws and weaken points very well. For example, non-political crimes and surveillance laws and institutions. By using non-political crimes, can put people’s mind bias image about other politician by giving unclear which motive does not seem as politic. Also, by laws and institutions, opponents make silence by using Libel lawsuits strategy. It would make it hard to be against stealth authoritarians. Because those non-political crimes would act in citizens’ minds negatively, it is hard to agree with that politician. In addition, making doubt about elections, political polarization, the negative behavior and rhetoric of elites, and biased countless voices from biased media disturb our minds. Those are part of well-known tactics of authoritarians in process of pursuit absolute power. They cast doubt on the legitimacy of why we must admire the democratic system. Some people declare or argue that democracy will suffer a crushing defeat by Stealth Authoritarianism. But is it true that democracy is a system destined to collapse soon, that Stealth Authoritarianism will triumph, and that democracy will regress forever? Poland answered “no” to that question, with confident.
In this context, the case of Poland is interesting. It is because it prompts us to re-examine democracy. Poland has shown us how to restore the democracy that they had once jeopardized. In Poland’s case, the electoral democracy index was suddenly low from 2015 to 2023. After 2023, the index slowly becomes higher again. Reason for the decrease in Poland’s democracy index is that the conservative PiS party, the ruling party at the time in 2015, increased political influence over state institutions.The Poland case that has a movement of PiS party tried to take over the political influence over institutions is linked to Stealth Authoritarianism.
The moves made by the PiS party to monopolize political power were numerous. They used legislative power to try to steer things in their favor. They introduced election laws just months before the election without consultation in quick. Through judicial reform, they disciplined those who opposed the ruling party to their advantage. Furthermore, they seized control of the public media to promote their agenda. As they began to seize control of Poland’s Constitutional Court, they also brought the State Judicial Council, responsible for appointing Polish judges, under their control. However, Poland is ultimately restoring democracy through elections, temporarily driving it out from them—those who cleverly evade the law to benefit themselves.
The people of Poland, standing with the new government, are currently in the process of restoring democracy. However, a change of government does not imply a simplistic, black-and-white solution of immediately restoring democracy. Poland currently faces many challenges. They still must face the leftovers from stealth authoritarians, such as people who were previously employed by them to propagate that kind of idea. They had to recover the democracy back. Poland must be suspicious and cautious of media’s correction. Citizens would have to keep focus on who are the ones who want to make less democracy, make new blood in some institutions, even would have to reinforce weaknesses of laws what they learned from past. The reason why the role of citizens is important is because democracy could only survive under support of people who support and want the democracy system. Nevertheless, Poland is defending democracy against autocracy, with citizens remaining vigilant, repeatedly keeping their guard up, and actively seeking solutions. Furthermore, examples of active citizen movements—such as participating in protests when the state undermines democracy, and measures protecting the independence of judges, prosecutors, and the state-run media, as well as actions regarding the accountability of public officials for corruption. From these lessons from Poland, we can understand that democracy does not helplessly collapse to Stealth Authoritarianism; it possesses the strength to resist and can be fully restored and recover. Case of Poland can give peoples who are struggling falling democracy a strength to get up again. Therefore, democracy could survive from Stealth Authoritarianism. Could get the lesson from Poland, to against and beware of authoritarians take over the democracy, citizens should concern well how their politics and government is doing, act if the politics are trying to rule their citizens by their taste, and try to get little bit braver to face the steps of restoring democracy.
References
Varol (2015). Stealth Authoritarianism
The Authoritarian Playbook.(2022, June 15). Protect Democracy.
Electoral Democracy Index Poland. (2026). Our World in Data.
Freedom House. (2013). Poland. Freedomhouse.org.
Smeltzer, M. (2023, September 21). Polish Democracy at a Crossroads. Freedom House.
Larkin, A. (2026). Poland Shows How Democracy Can Bend, But Not Break
Csaky, Z. (2024). The difficulties of restoring democracy in Poland. Centre for European Reform.
Bernhard. (2020). Pro-democratic Mass Mobilization in Poland. V-Dem.
Poland’s case is an inspiring one, driven by its people and their understanding of the importance of democracy. I enjoyed the beginning of your article as you personified “stealth authoritarianism” as a wolf. With a great explanation of what stealth authoritarianism is and its rise of stealthy players across the world, noted by the democracy index. As you explained, Poland’s election was important because it enabled them to break away from the PiS party. This truly exemplifies the importance of fair elections and the power of the media. The media in Poland must have been able to get out clear news to the public, and share the true damages and unconstitutional actions from the PiS party. Overall, this case study of Poland lends hope to other democratic countries that are victims of democratic backsliding and the wolf of stealth authoritarianism.